2001 Carolina Panthers season

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 2001 NFL draft

Undrafted free agents

Personnel

Staff

• Owner/founder – Jerry Richardson

• President – Mark Richardson

• Director of football operations – Marty Hurney

• Director of player personnel – Jack Bushofsky

• Head coach – George Seifert

• Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator – Richard Williamson

• Quarterbacks – Turk Schonert

• Running backs – Chick Harris

• Wide receivers – Mike McCoy

• Tight ends – Don Breaux

• Offensive line – Paul Boudreau

• Offensive assistant – Greg Roman

• Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator – John Marshall

• Defensive line – Jacob Burney

• Linebackers – Sam Mills

• Defensive Backs (Secondary) – Carlos Mainord

• Defensive assistant – Alvin Reynolds

• Special teams – Scott O'Brien

• Assistant special teams coordinator/assistant strength and conditioning – Darrin Simmons

• Strength and conditioning – Jerry Simmons

Roster

Regular season

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 1: at Minnesota Vikings

First quarter

• CAR – Steve Smith Sr. 93-yard kickoff return (John Kasay kick), 14:43. Panthers 7–0. Second quarter
• CAR – John Kasay 23-yard field goal, 11:43. ''Panthers 10–0. '''Drive: 7 plays, 41 yards, 3:34.''''' Third quarter
• MIN – Daunte Culpepper 7-yard run (Gary Anderson kick), 9:09. ''Panthers 10–7. '''Drive: 6 plays, 51 yards, 3:09.'''''
• MIN – Cris Carter 12-yard pass from Daunte Culpepper (kick blocked), 6:05. ''Vikings 13–10. '''Drive: 5 plays, 49 yards, 2:03.'''''
• CAR – Muhsin Muhammad 16-yard pass from Chris Weinke (John Kasay kick), 2:53. ''Panthers 17–13. '''Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 3:12.''''' Fourth quarter
• CAR – Chris Weinke 1-yard run (John Kasay kick), 9:52. ''Panthers 24–13. '''Drive: 7 plays, 34 yards, 3:45.''''' Top passers
• CAR – Chris Weinke – 13/22, 223 yards, TD, INT
• MIN – Daunte Culpepper – 22/38, 236 yards, TD, 3 INT Top rushers
• CAR – Nick Goings – 25 rushes, 86 yards
• MIN – Daunte Culpepper – 12 rushes, 57 yards, TD Top receivers
• CAR – Wesley Walls – 3 receptions, 74 yards
• MIN – Byron Chamberlain – 7 receptions, 83 yards This would be Carolina's only victory of the 2001 season. The Panthers would not win again until week 1 of the 2002 season.

Week 2: at Atlanta Falcons

First quarter

• ATL – Tony Martin 12-yard pass from Chris Chandler (Jay Feely kick), 7:20. ''Falcons 7–0. '''Drive: 9 plays, 76 yards, 7:08.'''''
• CAR – John Kasay 30-yard field goal, 2:41. ''Falcons 7–3. '''Drive: 10 plays, 63 yards, 3:44.''''' Second quarter
• CAR – Chris Weinke 5-yard run (John Kasay kick), 8:34. ''Panthers 10–7. '''Drive: 14 plays, 76 yards, 7:32.'''''
• ATL – Jay Feely 25-yard field goal, 1:38. ''Tied 10–10. '''Drive: 13 plays, 67 yards, 5:43.''''' Third quarter
• ATL – Jamal Anderson 94-yard pass from Chris Chandler (Jay Feely kick), 11:06. ''Falcons 17–10. '''Drive: 1 play, 94 yards, 0:13.'''''
• CAR – John Kasay 26-yard field goal, 2:30. ''Falcons 17–13. '''Drive: 8 plays, 38 yards, 2:20.''''' Fourth quarter
• ATL – Michael Vick 2-yard run (Jay Feely kick), 12:36. ''Falcons 24–13. '''Drive: 9 plays, 74 yards, 4:54.'''''
• CAR – John Kasay 31-yard field goal, 5:37. ''Falcons 24–16. '''Drive: 13 plays, 67 yards, 5:36.''''' Top passers
• CAR – Chris Weinke – 27/41, 276 yards
• ATL – Chris Chandler – 11/14, 244 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers
• CAR – Nick Goings – 15 rushes, 57 yards
• ATL – Jamal Anderson – 25 rushes, 98 yards Top receivers
• CAR – Muhsin Muhammad – 10 receptions, 132 yards
• ATL – Jamal Anderson – 1 reception, 94 yards, TD

Week 3: vs. Green Bay Packers

First quarter

• No scoring plays Second quarter
• CAR – Wesley Walls 3-yard pass from Chris Weinke (John Kasay kick), 13:44. ''Panthers 7–0. '''Drive: 11 plays, 58 yards, 3:51.'''''
• GB – Ryan Longwell 42-yard field goal, 8:26. ''Panthers 7–3. '''Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 3:50.'''''
• GB – Ryan Longwell 46-yard field goal, 0:58. ''Panthers 7–6. '''Drive: 11 plays, 58 yards, 5:11.''''' Third quarter
• GB – Bill Schroeder 12-yard pass from Brett Favre (Antonio Freeman pass from Brett Favre), 12:20. ''Packers 14–7. '''Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 2:18.'''''
• GB – Bubba Franks 6-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 8:30. ''Packers 21–7. '''Drive: 8 plays, 38 yards, 2:36.''''' Fourth quarter
• GB – Corey Bradford 5-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 12:23. ''Packers 28–7. '''Drive: 8 plays, 48 yards, 3:46.''''' Top passers
• GB – Brett Favre – 25/39, 308 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
• CAR – Chris Weinke – 18/30, 160 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
• GB – Ahman Green – 19 rushes, 53 yards
• CAR – Richard Huntley – 5 rushes, 19 yards Top receivers
• GB – Ahman Green – 6 receptions, 75 yards
• CAR – Donald Hayes – 4 receptions, 52 yards

Week 4: at San Francisco 49ers

Week 5: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week 6: at Washington Redskins

Week 7: vs. New York Jets

First quarter

• CAR – Rashard Anderson 94-yard fumble return (kick failed), 8:27. Panthers 6–0.
• NYJ – Chris Hayes 7-yard blocked punt return (John Hall kick), 1:46. Jets 7–6. Second quarter
• CAR – John Kasay 45-yard field goal, 0:00. ''Panthers 9–7. '''Drive: 1 play, 0 yards, 0:02.''''' Third quarter
• CAR – John Kasay 45-yard field goal, 12:10. ''Panthers 12–7. '''Drive: 4 plays, 9 yards, 1:36.'''''
• NYJ – John Hall 43-yard field goal, 7:52. ''Panthers 12–10. '''Drive: 8 plays, 36 yards, 4:18.''''' Fourth quarter
• NYJ – John Hall 34-yard field goal, 4:53. ''Jets 13–12. '''Drive: 4 plays, 5 yards, 2:00.''''' Top passers
• NYJ – Vinny Testaverde – 21/34, 181 yards, 3 INT
• CAR – Chris Weinke – 12/34, 76 yards, INT Top rushers
• NYJ – Curtis Martin – 27 rushes, 159 yards
• CAR – Richard Huntley – 14 rushes, 52 yards Top receivers
• NYJ – Laveranues Coles – 7 receptions, 91 yards
• CAR – Donald Hayes – 3 receptions, 23 yards Both offenses struggled throughout the game as the Jets gained 358 yards of total offense, but turned the ball over four times; conversely, the Panthers only had one turnover, but only gained 162 yards of total offense. Carolina scored first, with Rashard Anderson recovering a fumble and returning it 94 yards for a touchdown, but John Kasay missed the extra point. New York would respond late in the second quarter, with Chris Hayes returning a blocked punt 7 yards for a touchdown. The Panthers would score six unanswered points with a pair of 45-yard field goals from Kasay to go up 12–7 early in the third. However, Kasay's missed extra point would prove to be costly as the Jets would respond with two field goals of their own to win 13–12.

Week 8: at Miami Dolphins

Week 9: at St. Louis Rams

Week 10: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Week 11: vs. Atlanta Falcons

With their 10th straight loss, in yet another low scoring affair, the Panthers were eliminated from playoff contention at 1-10.

Week 12: at New Orleans Saints

Week 13: at Buffalo Bills

The Panthers, despite being up 24-13 at halftime, would be shut out in the second half losing 25-24 to the Bills. This marked their 12th consecutive loss and they finished the season 1-7 on the road.

Week 15: vs. St. Louis Rams

With the close loss, the Panthers fell to 1-13 while finishing 0-8 against the NFC West.

Week 16: vs. Arizona Cardinals

Week 17: vs. New England Patriots

First quarter

• NE – Adam Vinatieri 19-yard field goal, 10:04. ''Patriots 3–0. '''Drive: 11 plays, 52 yards, 4:13.'''''
• NE – Ty Law 46-yard interception return (Adam Vinatieri kick), 7:58. Patriots 10–0. Second quarter
• CAR – John Kasay 29-yard field goal, 6:25. ''Patriots 10–3. '''Drive: 10 plays, 57 yards, 4:19.''''' Third quarter
• NE – Troy Brown 68-yard punt return (Adam Vinatieri kick), 8:30. Patriots 17–3.
• CAR – John Kasay 40-yard field goal, 4:46. ''Patriots 17–6. '''Drive: 7 plays, 48 yards, 2:09.'''''
• NE – Antowain Smith 32-yard run (Adam Vinatieri kick), 1:29. ''Patriots 24–6. '''Drive: 6 plays, 63 yards, 2:37.''''' Fourth quarter
• NE – Jermaine Wiggins 5-yard pass from Tom Brady (Adam Vinatieri kick), 10:38. ''Patriots 31–6. '''Drive: 3 plays, 9 yards, 0:09.'''''
• NE – Otis Smith 76-yard interception return (Adam Vinatieri kick), 5:45. Patriots 38–6. Top passers
• NE – Tom Brady – 17/29, 198 yards, TD, 2 INT
• CAR – Chris Weinke – 15/36, 144 yards, 3 INT Top rushers
• NE – Antowain Smith – 21 rushes, 81 yards, TD
• CAR – Richard Huntley – 21 rushes, 168 yards Top receivers
• NE – David Patten – 4 receptions, 54 yards
• CAR – Brad Hoover – 4 receptions, 44 yards With the loss, the Panthers lost their 15th game in a row and finished the season at 1–15. The Panthers finished with the worst record in the NFL, but only received the second overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft due to the first overall pick being awarded to the Houston Texans, an expansion team. This would be the last game the Panthers played as a member of the NFC West as they were moved to the newly formed NFC South starting next season. Carolina was joined by New Orleans, Atlanta (both also coming from the NFC West), and Tampa Bay (from the NFC Central, which was renamed to the NFC North).

Head coach George Seifert would be fired the following day, finishing his tenure at Carolina with a record of 16–32 and zero playoff appearances.

Standings

Notes

References

References

1. Barney, Justin. (January 4, 2021). "Jaguars end worst season ever with 15th straight loss".
2. "2001 Carolina Panthers Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
3. "Assistant Coaches". Panthers.com.
4. (January 7, 2002). "Seifert fired by Panthers after 1–15 season". [[Quad-City Times]].